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With Two Days ‘Til the Maryland Primary, Bill Clinton Reaches for the Senior Citizen Vote

Jaren — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:13:59 +0000

Today when I was at my part time job, a fellow co-worker pointed out to me in the Washington Post that it indicated President Bill Clinton was doing a speech in a nearby retirement community in Silver Spring, Maryland called Leisure World. The information, presented in a fashion that suggested it was open to the public, seemed like good enough reason to try to make it out to see one of our former Presidents do a speech.

However upon calling Leisure World, it turns out the speech is only for residents or resident invite only. The explanation was that it was a “big mix up.” This is a very interesting development. It looks like not only race has been a factor in this campaign but also age. The young voters have flocked to Senator Barack Obama in a rock star type fashion. Obama is doing a speech at the University of Maryland tomorrow afternoon and it is expected to be so widely attended that it is in the Comcast Center, where the Terrapin basketball team plays its games.

It seems that Clinton has almost surrendered the youth vote. In defense, Chelsea Clinton did do a Q&A session at the student union at Maryland that I was not able to attend. However, according to a Washington Post blog report, only about 100 people attended. With Democrats turning out in record numbers for primaries and caucuses, I imagine the youth are playing a big role especially in Obama’s three big wins yesterday. Obama is inspiring the new generation’s voters…and with both Bill and Hillary not even attempting to court voters at Maryland’s biggest university, it strengthens the argument that the Clinton name represents the Democratic party of the past and the Obama name represents the Democratic party of the future.

Mike Huckabee Continues On, Makes Stop at University of Maryland

Jaren — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 20:45:54 +0000

After McCain cleaned house on Super Tuesday and Mitt Romney’s surprise farewell at the CPAC speech on Thursday, it seems that there is little room for anyone to make a jump in the GOP primary race. However, Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas vows to continue.

I was able to see the governor speak at the University of Maryland, where I am currently attending, today. He spoke mostly of economic issues including taxes where at one point he actually shredded a 1040 tax form.

In an area that is, to say the least, a bit left of center politically, it is not surprising that he did not spend much time focusing on social issues but rather fiscal issues, education, and coming from little to propel himself to the place where he is now.

While the chances are looking dim for Governor Huckabee, let us not forget that no one thought he would win Iowa, no one thought McCain would even make it past summer, etc.

But, he was all but written off by one important conservative voice…Karl Rove. At his new gig, FOX NEWS, Karl Rove explains Huckabee’s dim chances with his devolutionary white board.

IT’S BACK!

Jaren — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 20:06:27 +0000

Two steps Left is now back after somewhat of a lengthy hiatus. We expect this blog to be fully operational for the remaining length of the 2008 Presidential Campaign season.

Meet Mitt Romey, everyone

Jaren — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 16:54:37 +0000

And as far as I know, these pictures are real. So, I guess this is what they have to do to appeal to their “conservative” base. It is so funny how a candidate becomes most indecent when he or she is trying to appeal to a conservative audience. Whether it be singing about bombing Iran or holding up prejudiced signs comparing other candidates to terrorists, that seems to be the procedure.

Senate Passes Bill That Requires Better Gas Mileage By 2020

Jaren — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 18:18:15 +0000

Story
Congratulations Democratic Senate! You finally did something good!

Philip Cooney Testifies Before House Oversight and Gov’t Reform Committee

Jaren — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:18:51 +0000

UNBELIEVABLE! I was out of the loop on this one and I just started hearing about it from watching live C-SPAN coverage of it today. They just turned it over to House coverage but before they did James Connaughton, Philip Cooney’s former boss, was testifying before the House Oversight and Government Reform committee. I believe Philip Cooney did earlier among others. The hearings grew a bit heated at times.

Basically, Philip Cooney was a former oil lobbyist who was the Chief of Staff of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. He resigned his post in June of 2005 and was hired by ExxonMobil THREE DAYS LATER!

This guy had no scientific background, but rather a degree in economics. Anyway, there’s evidence that he politically doctored up global climate reports to undermine the evidence of climate change.

Read everything you can about this guy, I know I am out of the loop to just be finding about this now, but I am sure I am not the only one because I did a Yahoo! news search on Philip Cooney and obits from obscure cities came up rather than any news on this.

Politics and Religion

Jaren — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 16:17:53 +0000

Bill Clinton. Not a figure that is too respected on the religious right. Many times when people who follow the politics of the religious right cite reasons for disliking Bill Clinton it is usually a pretty easy reason: he had extramarital affairs when he was a married man. But what about Newt Gingrich? When Newt was trying to bring down Clinton he was doing the same thing. But, who gets forgiveness? Newt Gingrich.

That’s right, because Newt Gingrich will be addressing graduates at Falwell’s Liberty University this year. I don’t know, but the Bible I read growing up did not say only forgive those who share your politics. Obviously, Falwell has not forgiven and forgotten Clinton’s affair if one reads statements that were made just late last year comparing Clinton’s affair to the Mark Foley scandal, where by the way in case you have forgotten, Rep. Foley was molesting children not a consenting adult.

When our forefathers wanted to keep church separate from state, and equally as important state out of church, it was not something to be taken lightly. Unfortunately, certain churches have become political machines supporting an agenda of people on the far political right and making the God and the Jesus Christ I was taught about growing up into a tool to make a ton of money and influence political affairs. What a shame.

Ann Coulter…when will she stop?

Jaren — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 01:11:15 +0000

If there was one person in this great country of ours who should not have a right to free speech because of not knowing how to use such a great privilege, it would probably have to be Ann Coulter. Much like a junior high bully, she insulted a heterosexual married man by indirectly referring to him as a “faggot”. John Edwards, who has dedicated his time to helping the less fortunate and poverty stricken people in our nation, was simply insulted by her for no good reason. Ann Coulter spends her time on the things she is passionate about. Usually, it consists of insulting widows who lost their husbands in terrorist attacks or insulting politicians who actually try to make positive change.

I have not heard anyone actually try to insult someone publicly with something as unintelligent as the word “faggot” since probably late middle school or early high school. Would not one think that a political action conference would be a place to have intelligent discussion about issues affecting Americans? Instead, Ann Coulter uses it as a bully pulpit for name calling. What good has Ann Coulter done for her conservative cause? Nothing.

She is so unprofessional and unintelligent in her arguments that she has no respect from anyone who actually has political clout. All three Republican presidential front runners for 2008 denounced her comments basically saying that they were childish and way too unsophisticated for modern day political discussion.

Ann Coulter thinks way too highly of herself to care what anyone thinks. I doubt she even cares that the most prominent people in her political party denounced her, let alone a leftist blogger from rural Pennsylvania. However, my final point is that people like her have no place in modern society. People who publicly use the immature, uneducated, unprofessional and downright childish rhetoric that she uses to characterize people on the other side of the isle deserve no place in the politics of this great country, even if it is just a PAC meeting.

House Iraq War Debate Commentary

Jaren — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:42:49 +0000

As a fairly progressive Democrat who has stood against the Iraq War since its beginning, I have to say I am not happy with what my political party is doing in the House. I suppose it is nice to have a debate over the Iraq War but the non binding resolution is powerless. It will do nothing to stop the war. People will continue to die today as the Democrats pretend they are handling the situation like we elected them to do.

Although I understand our majority is probably not strong enough to end the war via cutting off funding, I feel there has to be a more productive way for Democrats to go about doing this.

The more I hear about the war, the more unsure I am. Comprehensive benchmarks with consequences for the Iraqi government seems like a reasonable option. A beginning to a redeployment and talks with surrounding nations that we have accused and polarized seems like it could be a start.

Most of the things outlined in the Iraq Study Group report seem like they could be an answer. If the Democrats worked to try to implement all of the measures of the Iraq Study Group report, I would say it could be much more productive than simply saying we disagree and wash our hands of Bush’s policy but won’t try to actually implement an alternative strategy.

The Iraq Study Group report was worked out in good old fashioned bipartisanship. Even though I have not read the full report, from what I have heard of it, it seems like an effective solution by people from various backgrounds and political persuasions coming together to find an answer. Resolution or not, President Bush has already started this troop surge. While it is great to have a debate, the debate does nothing to improve the situation. The American people are strongly opposed to this surge and the Democrats are doing nothing to materialize a true stop to it. Is it political fear? Is it because it is a powerlessly small majority in the Senate? Who knows, but I think they could do better. The debate has to end tonight at midnight, and the congresspeople will go to their upscale apartments in Georgetown or McLean, but as they sleep tonight, the war continues in a far off land. And they are doing nothing to effectively stop it.

Leftist Comedian Al Franken Announces Run for US Senate in Minnesota

Jaren — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:24:58 +0000

Today, comedian and Air America radio host Al Franken announced he would be running for the United States Senate in Minnesota on his website. Wide name recognition will be favorable for him early on, but whether or not he can be taken seriously as a candidate will be another question. However, a video posted on his website (which I posted the link below) seems to show a man sincere in representing the working people of Minnesota. You be the judge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh8LfGIM62M&eurl=